SkyFi Partners with Sen to Distribute UHD Video
Agreement Coincides with SkyFi Platform Launch, Sen Deployment In conjunction with its much-anticipated platform launch, SkyFi, the satellite and aerial imaging company democratizing access to earth observation (EO), has partnered with Sen Corporation to make its ultra-high-definition satellite video available to the masses.
Sen CEO Charles Black said the partnership is an ideal way to commemorate the company’s first satellite launch.
“As Sen enters commercial operations… SkyFi’s new app will help to open up the market for earth observation data by making it simple to order and access. SkyFi is going to help make earth observation data mainstream, and Sen is completely aligned with that goal,” Black said. “Our future, both on Earth and in space, is a story about all of us. We need to be informed about what’s happening now so we can help shape what happens next.”
Sen, which shares SkyFi’s mission to bring low-cost and transparent EO image availability, launched the first satellite, ETV-A1, into low-earth orbit on January 13, 2022, with plans to launch two more satellites by 2024, and several more shortly thereafter as part of their full constellation.
“SkyFi’s partnership with Sen gives our users a unique and rare experience to explore and analyze compelling weather activities, environmental hazards, and countless other fascinating events from above through their high-resolution UHD cameras,” noted Business Development Manager Ileisa Lambert.
The agreement allows SkyFi to distribute Sen’s streaming live and recorded video from four cameras calibrated to a range of spatial resolutions, including 8K video from its highest resolution camera which is capable of delivering 1.5-meter pixel size. It is a fitting prelude to SkyFi’s official business opening. Beginning January 17, the platform is available on Google and Apple mobile applications and, beginning January 18, through an interactive website. The beginning of commercial operations comes after two months of intensive beta testing to ensure a seamless user experience and frictionless purchasing process.
SkyFi was founded with the intention of making satellite imaging available to everyone - small businesses, independent researchers, first responders, and individuals by removing high-pressure sales tactics, prohibitive minimum order sizes, and long delivery lead times.
“Before SkyFi, locating and purchasing satellite imagery was expensive and complicated,” explained Kammy Brun, the company’s vice president of business development. “Legacy providers often require six-figure minimum orders, making their images inaccessible for many companies and applications. Even organizations that can spend $100,000 more must deal with brokers, pay extra fees, and have trouble understanding pricing.”
She said the SkyFi platform allows customers to browse images, pick the ones they want, pay a reasonable, transparent fee, and receive their photos in a few days. The business model includes an analytics App Store to help observers accurately interpret the images. SkyFi’s analytics partners use machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms to parse images’ metadata and track longitudinal data to identify trends that deliver actionable insights.
Similarly, Sen envisions “mass usage to inform, educate and inspire people, making our information freely accessible to individuals,” the company’s website says. “Sen will also work with businesses and organizations, offering image capture for analysis to third parties seeking to derive deep insights of change on Earth.”
The agreement brings SkyFi’s stable of image and analytics partners to 25. The firm will continue to add imaging capabilities to ensure blanket coverage of the earth to meet the needs of agriculture, real estate, resource management, emergency response, and other public and private sector clients. The company’s aggressive growth strategy includes the addition of diverse talent from across the globe. Its workforce includes team members in the United States, Ukraine, Poland, France, and Belgium.